Oroville Union High School - Nugget Yearbook (Oroville, CA)

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where she covered the astonished man with her gun. •‘Doan’ yuh go makin’ no fuss, now, or I'll bore yuh with my gun.” “But, madame, what does all of this mean,” stammered Mr. Green. “Well, I should think yuh wouldn't need no explainin' to; but come tuh th' house an' we’ll talk the matter over.” agreed the lady, still keeping him covered with her gun. but motioning to her stalwart sons to be ready with the rocks if occasion should demand. As they drew nearer to the house, the door opened and out stepped a bronzed, kaki-clad figure whose happy smile turned to one of amazement when he caught sight of the odd procession. Uttering a shriek of joy, Mrs. Gray llew forward, straight into the arms of her beloved son. thrusting away the gun as she went Forgetting about their prisoner, the children with wild cries of Joy followed their mother’s lead and hurled themselves onto their brother. Presently remembering her charge. Mrs. Gray turned, fully expecting him to be gone; but there he was. standing with an amused smile on his face. Tom catching the stranger’s eye. went forward to meet him. “Well. Old Timer, I see you have kept your promise.” said he with a smile. Mother, let me introduce Lieutenant James Green, my ‘Buddie Over There'.” “Well, don’t that beat yer,” muttered his mother under her breath. Jim’s an oil expert. Mother, and I asked him to come out here and see if there was any oil on the farm.” continued Tom. For land sakes. be there He on our little farm?” asked she in wonder, how we all kin bloom out in serciety.” “Yes, it’s oil. answered Lieutenant Green, “and I thought there might be some on Smith’s place, too. but there’s not a That etening while sitting around the dinner table. Tom asked. Why didn’t you tell mother who you were. Jim? That would have saved a lot of trouble.” ”1 know. answered Jim. but I didn t want to disappoint your folks if there wasn't any oil on the farm. An’ to think it was Irene’s letters that made them suspicious.’” continued Tom. glancing at the embarrassed Lieutenant: she’s the girl that nursed Jim when he was gassed. Mother; so you needn’t worry about any Bolsheviki getting hold of him.” That’s shore fine. beamed Mrs. Gray. An’ I alius did like Jim anyhow. But say, did you boys notice that I forgot tuh put any verniller In the cake?” KTHKLDA INMAN. ’21. THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A LITTLE GRAY FORD I am one of Henry Ford’s faults; and. altho all of my brothers and sisters and myself are jeered at and laughed about. 1 find the people have a great deal of use for us. I was first bought by a large rice grower in California. He treated me very well and took good care of me; but. after he had had me about three months, he decided that I was not exactly what he wanted. So the next day he took me to a little town called Gridley. where he left me in care of a garage man. who painted a nice “lor sale” sign on a piece of card board and fastened it on me. Days passed very slowly and my tires were beginning to hurt me as they were sorely in need of air ; also, my grease cups needed filling, and I was beginning to give up to despair. One morning, while I was standing in the garage grieving 21

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ill. and gave her half of whal lie had prepared. While he wan thanking Vesta, he felt a brightness around him; and looking up. saw. to his amazement and wonder, in the place where the poor old woman had sat, a beautiful dazzling goddess who told him she was V’esta. As a reward, she asked him what he would like better than anything else. The old man told her he would like to he able to wear his brown coat and red vest always. Vesta then changed him into a robin, and, to this day. he wears his brow'n coat and red vest, and sings merrily all the day. THELMA LONDON. 23. THE BOLSHEVIKI My sakes alive, muttered Mrs. Matilda Gray, I do hope this hycar cake don’t go flat; 'cause Tommy al’.ers was Stuck on cream cake;’ if he don’t get none after bein’ away fur so long, he shore will be disastrofled. I wonder what the children are doin;' they bein’ so quiet like? She was soon to have an answer to this question for her eldest daughter, a girl of about fifteen, appeared in the doorway in a state of very great excitement. She pressed close to her mother’s side and whispered dramatically, Mom. I b’lieve that feller what calls himself Jim Green be a bullsheviker. Jim Green, it be remarked here, had appeared on the little Kansas farm about a week before this story opened, and had received a position as handy man on the widowed Mrs. Gray’s farm. It must also be remarked that, although the little farm itself was practically useless, it was situated in the wheat belt and was surrounded by great wheat farms. Why, Sarayandy. what ever done put that notion into yore haid.” inquired her mother. Tain’t Christian for to suspect people nohow.’ Now. Ma. don’t get het up. soothed her daughter; that man's been snoopin’ around in ol’ Cyrus Smith’s wheat belt an’ Bill an’ Jim an’ Mary an' Sue an’ the baby be out there watchin' him to see that he don’t blow nothin’ up. An’ you know all them letters he been gettin.' I’ll bet the’re from the Bolshevikers.” To Mrs. Gray the iast pari ot this statement was indeed convincing: for whereas the whole Gray family received about two letters a month, from Tommy the soldier son. Mr. Green received an average of one letter a day. “Little darlin’s,’’ she murmured, looking with pride at her lanky freckled faced, little daughter, you just keep an eye on him ’till I get this hyear cake out of the oven ’n I’ll te right out. Tommy ought t’ be hyear any minnut, now. an’ he'll lick the pie out o’ the villain. It was perhaps thirty minutes later, when Mis. Gray, armed with a double barreled shot gun. went to the relief of Uncle Sam. She proceeded to the boundary between the adjoining la: m and her own, where a row of heads of indescribable age were all gazing earnestly at the figure of a man. a short distance away, in the wheat field. He was closely examining the ground and seemed unconscious o.° the row of self-appointed guardians of the peace, who. with sharp eyes, were watching his every move. Now, Sarry. you grab hold that there stick. ordered her mother in an authoritative voice, an' you boys load yore pockets up with rocks. Mary an’ Sue. an’ Baby ’ll have to stay hyear. If he staits tuh run. turn loose on him with yore rocks; I'm skeeied tuh ahoot cause this hyear gun kicks somethin’ awful. Well, aire ye all ready? If ye be. we’ll start.” Like a general leading an army. Mrs. Gray advanced, boldly at first, then more cautiously, finally creeping on hands and knees until within a short distance of the villain, 20

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about my troubles, a man and a boy drove in to get some gas. hile the man was filling the car with gas, the boy came over and looked at my sign and then looked me over very carefully. I knew I was going to like this fellow; and. to be frank with you. it was just another case of love at first sight. After he had looked me over considerably, he went over and asked his father something which I could not understand: but when the garage man came out. the boy’s father asked him how much he would take for me. “Well, replied the man. it isn’t my car. and the owner didn’t name a price, but I’ll sell it to you just as it stands for $350.00.” Then they all came over and looked at me. After a few moments of deliberation, the man decided he would buy me and said he would be back the next day for me. As soon as they left, the garage man put new air into my tires, which was a great relief to me. Then he put grease into all my cups and differential. oi!ed up my steering gear, and filled my tank full of gasoline. When he had finished with that, he took a nice soft cloth and wiped all the dirt off me. He then cranked me up and took me out for a “try. 1 ran just as well as I knew how and the garage man was very pleased with me. When next morning came, my heart began to beat very rapidly because here came the boy who was going to drive me home. He had red curly hair and his face was dotted with freckles. What's the harm in that when you’re in love with some one? Well, as 1 was saying, he came in. looked me over and then cranked me up. He was a very good driver and 1 acted as best I knew how because that’s the way you're supposed to do when you’re in love with somebody. Ain’t it? I don't know 'cause this is my first love affair. Oh! well, when w’e got to what 1 guessed was home. 1 found it to be a large ranch and this was where I was to stay. Time has passed very quickly and I now have a new coat of paint, which is a little lighter than a battleship grey, and a brand new’ set of tires. I feel very proud and from what I hear 1 am to have the honor of carrying Master Emerson (which is his name) back and forth from school each day. 2 The glorious morning had arrived, and I very pompously carried my young owner to the school. My! but I was proud of the school, because a bunch of girls, about his own age. came up and looked me over and told him what a little beauty 1 was; but things like that don’t bother me. because I’m not vain; besides you’re not supposed to Hirt with others when you’re in love. Time had passed and I had been carryng Emery back and forth from school for about two months. I was all speckled with mud and I really needed a bath. One night after school when Emery came out. he seemed to be in the very highest spirits. Going home. I noticed he drove me a little faster than I really liked to go; but when we got home. 1 forgave him because he gave me a nice bath and polished me up so that I looked just like new. When night time came, he came out. as I supposed, to put me in the garage: but when he got close to me. I saw that he was dies.-ed up in his very best clothes and oh! how my heart did beat; he is so grand! He cranked me up. and we went to town. He drove up in front of a house that I had never seen before; then he honked my horn. In a few moments. the door opened and closed, and somebody came down the walk. When she drew close enough, I saw that it was a peach of a dame. I thought I was going to like her; but when she got in. I was horror-stricken because, right in my presence. my beloved master put his arm around her. I thought I would die. but I kept a stiff upper lip and kept on chugging. He finally drove me up in front of a large building where lots of lights were shining and lots of other machines were parked outside. He stopped me beside a big Chandler, then they got out and went into the big building. After they had gone. 1 began to cry; it was foolish I know', but you know how it is; and besides it was my first love affair. I guess if the Chandler hadn’t spoken up and soothed me a little. I would have leaked all of my radiator tears away; but the Chandler asked me why 1 was crying, and I had to stop to tell him. When 1 finished, he also said that he got a ”kick out of listening to his master and girl make love. Now, when he said he got a “kick out of it.” that made